Hundreds of seasonal workers were treated to a free lunch by NZSki in Queenstown yesterday, culminating in the "world's biggest snow dance" which people desperate for an income hoped would result in a much needed snowfall last night.
NZSki chief executive James Coddington told the Otago Daily Times the company had prepared enough food for 1000 people - with an open invitation for all those struggling to find work due to the late winter.
"It's really to thank the community - the community has been fantastic to us and our workers and helping us out, but we also understand it's much broader than NZSki.
"It's having a huge impact on the community, local businesses and local people. The least we can do is help out."
Its impact was wider than just on NZSki, he said.
Twelve NZSki staff spent three hours preparing the 950 sausages, 60kg of onions, 220 burger patties, bread, buns and sauces, with fruit and drink also available at the Queenstown Rec Ground between 12.30pm and 1.30pm. However by 11.30am, people had begun to arrive and were tucking in to the free lunch.
NZSki staff Michelle Stark (Scotland), Jill McDonnell (Ireland) and Chris Maness (United States) were among the hundreds who have been taking advantage of NZSki's daily lunches - yesterday was the 24th.
While things were not easy financially, the trio said they had no plans to leave the resort and would wait for the snow.
"It's getting colder, so that's good," Ms McDonnell said.
She was waiting for a tax return from Australia, which would help her out, while Ms Stark was dipping into her savings accounts. Mr Maness had been working for seven months in New Zealand before arriving in Queenstown.
All three were quick to say that they had not considered leaving.
Among the non-NZSki staff yesterday were a group of unemployed tourists who found out about the lunch at the Salvation Army.
While United Kingdom residents Tamer Habashy and Tom Eldred had picked up some work, their friends had not been so lucky. Dave Murtagh, of Ireland, will be leaving Queenstown today, having gone two months without income.
While he managed to secure a job at the weekend, it was too little, too late.
Mika Barkan, of Israel, is unable to work, as she is in New Zealand without a work visa and came to Queenstown intending to make the most of her season's ski pass - which she is also unable to do because of the warm weather.
"I'm just here to snowboard - I'm going crazy [but] it's a good town and there's lots of stuff to do."
Coronet Peak Ski Area manager Hamish McCrostie hoped some natural snow would fall this week and temperatures would be low enough to make, and keep, snow.
"Niwa are saying it's a one-in-a-100 year event. Normally at this time of year we've had a huge number of hours' snow-making. This year we've had about 50 or 60 [hours] in bursts."
Despite his staff waiting for almost a month, Mr McCrostie said they were "holding up remarkably well".
"We've gone through Winz, so some people are getting emergency relief support there. That's helping.
"The lunches are helping. Activities are keeping people busy so they're not wandering around aimlessly without money."
